Solar Panel Calculator for Mesa, AZ
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Mesa, AZ, using local NREL sunshine data, Arizona prices and electricity rates.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Mesa gets about 6.51 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,747 kWh a year. That ranks #7 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Mesa by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Mesa
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.85 | 936 kWh | $144 |
| Feb | 5.64 | 984 kWh | $151 |
| Mar | 6.63 | 1,240 kWh | $190 |
| Apr | 7.67 | 1,360 kWh | $209 |
| May | 7.99 | 1,432 kWh | $220 |
| Jun | 8.16 | 1,376 kWh | $211 |
| Jul | 7.23 | 1,248 kWh | $192 |
| Aug | 7.14 | 1,240 kWh | $190 |
| Sep | 6.92 | 1,184 kWh | $182 |
| Oct | 6.10 | 1,128 kWh | $173 |
| Nov | 5.46 | 992 kWh | $152 |
| Dec | 4.33 | 856 kWh | $131 |
| Year | 6.51 | 13,976 kWh | $2,147 |
Savings at 15.36¢ per kWh (Arizona average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.25 per watt, the Arizona average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $9,000 | $1,073 | 8.5 yrs | $16,284 |
| 6 kW | $13,500 | $1,610 | 8.5 yrs | $24,426 |
| 8 kW | $18,000 | $2,147 | 8.5 yrs | $32,568 |
| 10 kW | $22,500 | $2,683 | 8.5 yrs | $40,710 |
| 12 kW | $27,000 | $3,220 | 8.5 yrs | $48,852 |
How many panels you need in Mesa
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 3.43 kW | 9 |
| 750 kWh | 5.15 kW | 13 |
| 1,000 kWh | 6.87 kW | 18 |
| 1,500 kWh | 10.30 kW | 26 |
| 2,000 kWh | 13.74 kW | 35 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,747 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Mesa?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $18,000 before incentives, saves about $2,147 in its first year and pays back in about 8.5 years.
How many peak sun hours does Mesa get?
About 6.51 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 4.3 in Dec to 8.2 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Mesa?
About 1,747 kWh a year, or 146 kWh a month on average.
Is there a federal solar tax credit?
Not for homeowners who buy their system. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025.
Sources
- NREL PVWatts V8 API (south-facing, 20° tilt, 14% losses, typical-year weather): https://developer.nlr.gov/docs/solar/pvwatts/v8/
- EnergySage, Solar panel cost by state (updated November 6, 2026): https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-panel-cost/
- U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B (residential price, Jan–Aug 2026): https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_b